University of Oklahoma Sports

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^^^
Yup. WAY too much overreaction to this game. It was a trap game from the get-go. Unless OU is playing another super-disciplined triple option offense between now and wherever they end up, there won’t be another one that looks like this one. Incredibly tough offense to prepare for, and the OU offense - while a bit less potent than recent weeks - mostly never had the ball and had to sit on the sidelines while Army churned endlessly down the field.

The defense has looked vastly improved so far this season thanks to some upgraded recruiting, and this game is probably not much of an indication of what they’ll look like going forward.

If anything I think it’s good that OU got seriously challenged early in the season without actually losing. Should kill off any creeping overconfidence and cause them to give respect to everyone they play from here on out.

[Jake]

I'm usually a doom and gloom guy on here about sports, but the Army game, while underwhelming, didn't really bother me that much.

OU just has to win.

Ugly or not, they just have to win games. If they win every single game from here on out by 3 points, they're in the playoff. Now, is OU a playoff caliber team? I don't know, maybe. But they just need to focus on each game in front of them, not a game they won in overtime that wasn't "good" enough.

[okatty]

Good news - neither Ga. Tech or Navy on the schedule.

[SoonerDave]

Well, even given the option offense, OU still struggles with fundamentals on tackling and proper angles, no matter the offense. Many of Army's 88 plays were due at least in part to some really poor tackling and terrible discipline on the edges. And Khalil Haughton (sp) just continues to struggle.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^^^^^
Totally agree that tackling fundamentals were underwhelming at times. They have work to do; no question.

My only point is that this offense was a serious outlier, OU was tested, managed to survive, and probably won’t be reading their own press clippings for a few more weeks. Not a terrible situation unless they don’t learn from it and progress from here.

We know what we have in this offense, the D has shown promise and definite athletic improvement. They’re undefeated. Throwing in the towel as fans right now is utter stupidity.

[Laramie]

Great to have confidence, something Sooner players cherish.

Army should have taken the ball first in the OT after winning the coin toss. The strategy was to tie the game in OT and go for the kill (2pt conversion). They had the Sooner defense on their heels with very little rest. They chose to put their defense out there having dodged a bullet prior to OT. OU's defense had just enough rest to catch that 2nd wind and disrupt Army; it kept the Black Knights second-guessing and under extreme pressure. Stoops did instruct the defense to dial up the pressure on the QB, forced him to make quick decisions.

Sooner Magic; maybe... Up next, Baylor--nice to get battle-tested. IMO: Sooners appeared cocky following the UCLA win.

[emtefury]

The defense will not improve until Mike Stoops is fired. The constant in the defense is Stoops being there for seven years. The players have come and gone.

[PhiAlpha]

The defense will not improve until Mike Stoops is fired. The constant in the defense is Stoops being there for seven years. The players have come and gone.

People said the same about Brent Venables when they brought Mike Stoops back in then he left and is now one of the most successful coordinators in the NCAA. It isn’t all the coaches fault.

[Laramie]

.

[gopokes88]

The defense will not improve until OU leaves the big 12. The constant in the defense is being in the big 12. The players have come and gone.

There ya go. Fixed it for you.

[traxx]

People said the same about Brent Venables when they brought Mike Stoops back in then he left and is now one of the most successful coordinators in the NCAA. It isn’t all the coaches fault.

Yeah and Brent has a lot of pretty average offenses since he's been gone. If you made Brent and Mike trade places right now, I don't think either program would see much difference defensively.

Brent and Mike coached together for several years so they do have some overlapping defensive philosophies. Like having smaller defensive backs. Their idea behind it is to have smaller and faster backs that are faster and can cover more field but neither Mike's nor Brent's DBs could seem to cover much of anything and are too undersized to compete against larger WRs.

[PhiAlpha]

Yeah and Brent has a lot of pretty average offenses since he's been gone. If you made Brent and Mike trade places right now, I don't think either program would see much difference defensively.

Brent and Mike coached together for several years so they do have some overlapping defensive philosophies. Like having smaller defensive backs. Their idea behind it is to have smaller and faster backs that are faster and can cover more field but neither Mike's nor Brent's DBs could seem to cover much of anything and are too undersized to compete against larger WRs.

The secondary seems to have improved quite a bit this year though the bar has been set pretty low. They’re more aggressive, making plays on the ball that I don’t remember seeing over the last few seasons and breaking up/nearly intercepting balls that would’ve been completions in years passed. Some stuff still gets by them, but overall it’s a marked improvement so far and most of that has been from young guys stepping up that still have room to grow. Hopefully they keep improving as WVU looks really good without Greir at QB.

[okatty]

OU - Texas line is 7.5 (can buy it down to 7 at -120). Game Day at the Fair. Think I can smell the corn dogs already!

[Laramie]

.

.
Saturday, October 6, 2018

11 a.m.

TV: KOKH 25, Oklahoma City

College Gay Day 8 a.m. ESPN

[Dustin]

Booomeeerrrrrrr

soooooneeerrrrr!!!!

[Jake]

Oklahoma will never win anything substantial unless they get a better defense. As of now, it's 24-10 Texas.

Oklahoma has been exposed. They just has to hope for a New Year's 6 bowl now.

[dcsooner]

Oklahoma will never win anything substantial unless they get a better defense. As of now, it's 24-10 Texas.

Oklahoma has been exposed. They just has to hope for a New Year's 6 bowl now.

Natl Championships are won with defense and OU defense continues to open like the Red Sea. How many years will our DB be exposed. When will we tackle someone? Eben IF we luckily win this game, OU is not a top 8 team. I've advocated to Stoops firing for 4-5 years, but OU continues to keep him. I'm going golfing.

[Jake]

OU hasn't stoped a single team in the red zone the entire season. That is honestly incredible.

[Midtowner]

OU is not a top 25 team with this defense. It's time to clean house with the defense coaching staff. A program like OU shouldn't accept such mediocrity.

[chuck5815]

Well, I think it’s probably High Time that we fire Mike Stoops. Whatever sweetheart deal Bob worked out for him needs to be terminated effective this Monday.

[kevin lee]

It's hard to clean house when big brother is still walking around the building as much as the janitor.

[okatty]

OU hasn't stoped a single team in the red zone the entire season. That is honestly incredible.

And most of the are touchdowns as opposed to FGs. I agree - hard to believe. Dumb luck would have a team turn it over or miss a FG. NOPE. 100% success (or failure from OU’s standpoint).

[emtefury]

People said the same about Brent Venables when they brought Mike Stoops back in then he left and is now one of the most successful coordinators in the NCAA. It isn’t all the coaches fault.

It is the coaches fault. The coach also recruits the players. Mike Stoops has ruined at least two (maybe three) years of a team with offenses that can win the national championship. It is not often you have two of the best college quarterbacks two years in a row.

[mugofbeer]

I don't know about doing it now, but unless there is dramatic improvement in basic tackling, blocking and filling gaps, l am inclined to believe it's time for new blood on defense. M. Stoops has been there since 2012 and has had ample opportunity to recruit talent good enough and big enough to NOT be pushed up and down the field by Iowa State and Army, much less, Texas.
It seems he visits this low level of approval every year. IMO, it's close to the point where enough is enough.

[mugofbeer]

It is the coaches fault. The coach also recruits the players. Mike Stoops has ruined at least two (maybe three) years of a team with offenses that can win the national championship. It is not often you have two of the best college quarterbacks two years in a row.

It is the coaches fault. They let the wrong one go back when Venables left and there wasn't room for both of them.